Single line feeding apparatus



Dec. 27, 1960 Filed Sept. 26, 1958 L. H. ROBOCK SINGLE LINE FEEDING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 od g ATTORNEY Dec. 27, 1960 L. H. ROBOCK SINGLE LINE FEEDING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 26, 1958 BY m. 6 25 ATTORNEY United States Patent SINGLE LINE FEEDING APPARATUS Lloyd H. Robock, Faraday Uranium Mines Limited, Bancroft, Ontario, Canada Filed Sept. 26, 1958, Ser. No. 763,596

8 Claims. (Cl. 19830) This invention relates to a device for feeding pieces of material in a single line.

In many instances, it is desirable to feed objects or pieces of material such as ore and the like in a single line or row to facilitate sorting or inspection of such objects and pieces. Such material is usually in the form of a stock pile and while it is a simple matter to provide a conveyor for moving the pieces of material in a stream, the conversion of such stream into a single aligned row of such pieces constitutes a problem.

It is an object of this invention to convert a stream of objects or pieces of material into a single aligned row of such objects or pieces in a simple, positive manner.

The invention contemplates the provision of a generally V-shaped trough having a moving belt constituting one side wall of said trough and a stationary plate constituting the other side wall of said trough, the angular relation of each of said side walls with respect to the other being adjustable, said trough having a feed end and a discharge end, the angle between said side walls gradually decreasing from the feed end to discharge end thereof.

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a side elevation of a device in accordance with the invention,

Figure 2 is an end elevation of a pulley supporting means,

Figure 3 is an end elevation of a head pulley supporting means, and,

Figure 4 is a partial side elevation on line 4-4 of Figure 2.

In the drawings, 1 and 2 are supporting beams, one end of each of which are hinged at 3 to base posts 4. The other end of each beam 1 and 2 is mounted on an adjustable post or jack 5 whereby the longitudinal inclination of the beams may be adjusted as required.

Mounted on the ends of beams adjacent the jacks 5 is a tail pulley mounting 6 and at spaced intervals along the beams a plurality of idler pulley mountings 6a. Each pulley mounting 6 and 6a is similar in structure and is clearly shown in Figure 2. Each such mounting comprises an upright plate 7 having its lower edge fixed to the beams as by means of a base plate 8. A reinforcing gusset 9 may be provided for adequate support of plate 7 on base plate 8. A yoke 10 is pivoted to plate 7 at 16a. Means for locking the yoke 10 in varying rotative relation to plate 7 comprises a locking bolt 11 carried by plate 7 and arranged to traverse an arcuate slot 12 in the yoke 9.

Mounted on yoke 10 are a pair of spaced upright arms 13 having aligned bearings 14 in which is journalled a shaft 15 of a tail pulley 16 or a shaft 17 of an idler pulley 18.

Mounted on the opposite ends of beams 1 and 2 is a head pulley mounting 19 comprising a pair of upright plates 20 each having its lower edge fixed to the beams as by means of a base plate 21, a head pulley 22 being journalled in plates 20 and driven by means of belt 23 2,9ti6,250 Patented Dec. 27, 1950 from a motor 24. An alternative adjustable mounting for head pulley 22 is shown in Figure 3 and comprises a yoke 25 pivoted to a plate 26 at 27. Means for locking the yoke 25 in desired relative rotative relation to plate 26 comprises a locking bolt 2.5a arranged to traverse an arcuate slot 26a in yoke 26. Means for imparting rotative movement to yoke 25 may comprise a rod 28 reciprocally mounted in a sleeve 28a pivoted to a base post 4. One end of rod 28 is pivoted to an angularly extending arm 29 fixed to yoke 25. Rod 28 may be locked against reciprocal movement by means of set screw 30 in sleeve 28a.

Yoke 25 is provided with a pair of spaced upright arms 31 having aligned bearings 32 in which is journalled a shaft 33 of head pulley 22.

Means for driving head pulley 22 comprises the motor 24 which in this instance is mounted on yoke 25 and drivably connected to shaft 33 by pulleys 36 and 37 and belt 38.

Mounted on tail pulley 16, idler pulleys 18, and head pulley 22 is an endless belt 39 of rubber, rubber composition, or like flexible material. Preferably, positive tracking means for the belt is provided and comprises as shown a centrally disposed rib 40 on the inner face of the belt and complementary annular grooves 41 in the pulleys.

Belt tightening means may be provided and as shown comprises a screw-threaded rod 42 fixed at one end to gusset 9 of the tail pulley mounting. Tail pulley mounting 6 is longitudinally movable on beams 1 and 2 as by means of a pin 43 and slot 44 connection with the beams. Rod 42 extends through a plate 45 fixed to the adjacent ends of beams 1 and 2 and is provided with a nut 46 whereby the tail pulley mounting may he moved towards the ends of the beam to maintain the belt 39 in desired taut condition.

The lower travelling portion of the belt 39 is preferably supported on rollers 47 the shafts 48 of which are journalled in bearings 49 mounted in the arms 13.

Belt 39 is adapted to be laterally inclined by tilting of the pulley mountings 6 and 6a, the angle of inclination from the horizontal being of gradually increasing degree from the head pulley to the tail pulley. The head pulley is preferably close to the horizontal but may be slightly inclined as required. The tail pulley may be inclined at an angle approaching 45 or greater from the horizontal. The belt thus has one of its edges 39a in lower relation to its upper edge 3%.

Mounted on the idler pulley mountings 6a is a material separating and aligning plate 50 formed of relatively thin sheet or other material, plastic composition, pressed fiber board or the like. One edge portion of plate 58, constituting the lower edge thereof is supported by means of a bolt 51 in each mounting 6a in closely adjacent relation to edge 39a of belt 39. The end of each bolt 51 is connected to the edge portion of plate 56 by means of a universal or ball and socket joint 52a mounted in a bracket 52 fixed to plate 50. Bolt 51 is screw-threadedly mounted in a threaded sleeve 53 carried by an extension 54 of an arm 13. The plate 5% is additionally supported at its upper edge portion by means of a rod 55 in each arm extension 54, rod 55 having a flexible connection 56 with the plate which may comprise a resilient cushion 57 carried by the end of rod 55 and received within a bracket 58 fixed to the plate 56. The rod 55 is axially movable with respect to arm extension 54 by means of a nut 59 on a screw threaded end portion 60 thereof. The plate 59 may be additionally supported by means of a pair of gusset plates 61 fixed to the plate and extending downwardly thereof. A bolt 62 extends slidingly through a web 63 connecting the free ends of the gusset plates, the head 64 of bolt 62 being disposed on the inner side of web 63. The bolt is mounted for screw-threaded axial adjustment in arm 13.

It will be apparent that the position of the lower edge of plate 50 with respect to the edge 39a of belt 39 may be adjusted by manipulation of the bolts 51 and that the angular relation of the plate 51 may be varied by manipulation of the rods 55 and bolts 62.

In each of the intermediate mountings for the plate (i.e., except for the mountings at the extreme ends of the plate), in order to permit limited longitudinal travel of the plate, bracket 52 and web 63 are slotted at 63 and 69, respectively.

It will thus be observed, by reference to Figure 2, that the belt 39 and plate 56) constitute the side walls of a V-shaped trough, such side walls each being adjustable as to their angular relation to each other.

Plate 59 may be subjected to vibratory motion of small amplitude by one or more vibrators 65 of conventional type.

Objects or pieces 66 of material are adapted to be fed to the tail pulley or feed end of the apparatus as by means of a conventional feeder 67. At such feed end, the belt 39 is in relatively steep relation to the horizontal for engagement with a maximum number of individual pieces of material. Movement of the belt in relation to the stationary surface of plate 50 initially tends to separate the individual pieces from each other. As the belt flattens out in its progress towards the head pulley, the pieces are positively separated and emerge as a single aligned row 68 of separated pieces.

-The plate 50 will ordinarily be at a gradually increasing angle to the horizontal from the discharge to the feed end of the device. However, the angularity of the plate and belt will be adjusted to meet varying conditions of use and the particular objects under treatment.

The trough as a unit may be disposed horizontally or given a longitudinal inclination by adjustment of the jacks 5. Such adjustment will again depend upon the conditions of use.

1 claim:

1. Apparatus for feeding pieces of material in a single line comprising an endless belt having supporting head and tail pulleys, means for driving said belt, said belt being laterally inclined at an angle to the horizontal and having upper and lower paths of travel, a stationary plate extending along the major portion of the lower edge of said belt in said upper path of travel, said plate being laterally inclined at an angle to the horizontal and extending upwardly from said lower belt edge to form therewith a trough, said trough having a feed end adjacent said tail pulley and a discharge end adjacent said head pulley, and sole means for feeding pieces of said material into said trough, comprising a chute having a feed outlet disposed directly above said feed end of said trough, all of said pieces of material being thereby deposited in said feed 'end of said trough for progressive frictional engagement with said plate during conveyance by said bcit from said feed end to said discharge end and ultimate single line arrangement thereof, said angle of inclination of said belt being of gradually varying degree from said feed end to said discharge end.

2. Apparatus for feeding pieces of material in a single line comprising an endless belt having supporting head and tail pulleys, means for driving said belt, said belt being laterally inclined at an angle to the horizontal and having upper and lower paths of travel, a stationary plate extending along the major portion of the lower edge of said belt in said upper path of travel, said plate being laterally inclined at an angle to the horizontal and extending upwardly from said lower belt edge to form therewith a trough, said trough having a feed end adjacent said tail pulley and a discharge end adjacent said head pulley, and sole means for feeding pieces of said material into said trough, comprising a chute having a feed outlet disposed directly above said feed end of said trough, all of said pieces of material being thereby deposited in said feed end of said trough for progressive frictional engagement with said plate during conveyance by said belt from said feed end to said discharge end and ultimate single line arrangement thereof, said angle of inclination of said belt being of gradually decreasing degree from said feed end to said discharge end.

3. Apparatus for feeding pieces of material in a single line comprising an endless belt having supporting head and tail pulleys, means for driving said belt, said belt being laterally inclined at an angle to the horizontal and having upper and lower paths of travel, a stationary plate extending along the major portion of the lower edge of said belt in said upper path of travel, said plate being laterally inclined at an angle to the horizontal and extending upwardly from said lower belt edge to form therewith a trough, said trough having a feed end adjacent said tail pulley and a discharge end adjacent said head pulley, and sole means for feeding pieces of said material into said trough, comprising a chute having a feed outlet disposed directly above said feed end of said trough, all of said pieces of material being thereby deposited in said feed end of said trough for progressive frictional engagement with said plate during conveyance by said belt from said feed end to said discharge end and ultimate single line arrangement thereof, said angle of inclination of said plate being of gradually varying degree from said feed end to said discharge end.

4. Apparatus for feeding pieces of material in a single line as defined in claim 1, said angle of inclination of said plate being of gradually varying degree from said feed end to said discharge end.

5. Apparatus for feeding pieces of material in a single line comprising an endless belt having supporting head and tail pulleys, means for driving said belt, said belt being laterally inclined at an angle to the horizontal and having upper and lower paths of travel, a stationary plate extending along the major portion of the lower edge of said belt in said upper path of travel, said plate being laterally inclined at an angle to the horizontal and extending upwardly from said lower belt edge to form therewith a trough, said trough having a feed end adjacent said tail pulley and .a discharge end adjacent said head pulley, and sole means for feeding pieces of said material into said trough, comprising a chute having a feed outlet disposed directly above said feed end of said trough, all of said pieces of material being thereby deposited in said feed end of said trough for progressive frictional engagement with said plate during conveyance by said belt from. said feed end to said discharge end and ultimate single line arrangement thereof, a frame, a mounting for each of said pulleys in said frame, said mounting for said tail pulley being adjustably tiltable in said frame in a direction perpendicular to the axis of said tail pulley to define said angle of inclination of said belt, and means for retaining said tail pulley mounting in tilted position.

6. Apparatus for feeding pieces of material in a single line comprising an endless belt having supporting head and tail pulleys, means for driving said belt, said belt being laterally inclined at an angle to the horizontal and having upper and lower paths of travel, a stationary plate extending along the major portion of the lower edge of said belt in said upper path of travel, said plate being laterally inclined at an angle to the horizontal and extending upwardly from said lower belt edge to form therewith a trough, said trough having a feed end adjacent said tail pulley and a discharge end adjacent said head pulley, and sole means for feeding pieces of said material into said trough, comprising a chute having a feed outlet disposed directly above said feed end of said trough, all of said pieces of material being thereby deposited in said feed end of said trough for progressive frictional engagement with said plate during conveyance by said belt from said feed end to said discharge end and ultimate single line arrangement thereof, a frame, intermediate idler pulleys also supporting said belt, and a mounting for each of said pulleys in said frame, each said mounting being independently and adjustably tiltable in said frame in a direction perpendicular to the axis of said pulley therein to define said angle of inclination of said belt, and means for retaining each said mounting in tilted position.

7. Apparatus for feeding pieces of material in a single line as defined in claim 6, including a plurality of spaced supports mounted in said frame, said plate being carried by said supports at longitudinally spaced points, and means for independently adjusting the position of each said support in said frame to differentially vary the angle of inclination of said plate.

8. Apparatus for feeding pieces of material in a single line comprising an endless belt having supporting head and tail pulleys, means for driving said belt, said belt being laterally inclined at an angle to the horizontal and having upper and lower paths of travel, a stationary plate extending along the major portion of the lower edge of said belt in said upper path of travel, said plate being laterally inclined at an angle to the horizontal and extending upwardly from said lower belt edge to form therewith a trough, said trough having a feed end adjacent said tail pulley and a discharge end adjacent said head pulley, and sole means for feeding pieces of said material into said trough, comprising a chute having a feed outlet disposed directly above said feed end of said trough, all of said pieces of material being thereby deposited in said feed end of said trough for progressive frictional engagement with said plate during conveyance by said belt from said feed end to said discharge end and ultimate single line arrangement thereof, a frame, a plurality of spaced supports mounted in said frame, said plate being carried by said supports at longitudinally spaced points, and means for adjusting the position of said supports in said frame to vary the angle of inclination of said plate.

Stebler Apr. 24, 1934 Farmer June 10, 1952 

